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facet: Main
type: Traditional
locale: en_US
title: Stand Up MN
facet_type_id: 2661a1c0-5f39-1032-9cfb-4790d997487a
html_text: |-
Though they've only been leading paddling tours for a few years, the certified guides of Stand Up MN have already helped thousands of people explore the Twin Cities' local waterways up close. After equipping their guests with standup paddleboards, personal flotation devices, and ample training, they embark on trips along the quiet stretch of the Mississippi River that cuts through their urban landscape.
From St. Paul, groups glide under bridges and pass idyllic natural areas—and from Minneapolis, they can take a break from paddling to high-five low-flying birds from a rope swing over the water. Stand Up MN also leads extended paddling tours to Taylors Falls, where state parks and tumbling waterfalls abound. These excursions are complemented by the company's special events, which include speed-dating events at which participants spend most of the time hanging out while paddleboarding.

Modo Yoga Minneapolis is one of more than 75 independent locations maintained by Moksha Yoga. Modo unites hot yoga with an unwavering fidelity to sustainable environmental and social practices. The company's eponymous classes combine therapeutic yoga with traditional yoga through 40 postures that can be modified to stretch and challenge students of all fitness and flexibility levels. Ryann and Phil Doucette co-own the Minneapolis studio, where Ryann manages, directs, and happily teaches in the footsteps of Moksha founders Ted Grand and Jessica Robertson. Ryann and Phil outfitted the studio with cork flooring for joint support and radiant heating for encouraging the release of toxins through perspiration. The 103-degree heat helps ligaments get as loose as a pirate's morals doing the worm, allowing deeper stretches. All her hard work has paid off with Modo Yoga Minneapolis being awarded Best New Studio in 2011 and Best Hot Yoga in 2012 by Minnesota Monthly.

In 1987, Brian McInerny was careening around Italy in a four-wheel, multipassenger Surrey cycle. An avid cyclist, he fell in love with this quirky contraption that he'd never seen in the United States and he immediately sought out the manufacturer and purchased a crate of them. Wheel Fun Rentals traces its origin to this very moment, as Brian changed his surrey-distribution company into a rental and tour company that spans the nation. In spite of a general suspicion of unicycles and their ulterior motives, the company's corporate philosophy espouses "Supporting active healthy lifestyles for our customers and maintaining a healthy environment for all." Wheel Fun's fleet of rentals now includes bicycles, multipassenger Surreys, scooters, surfboards, and paddle-based watercraft. They also promote green communities by offering free rentals to Big Brothers Big Sisters.

The Urban Assault Ride challenges cyclists to speed from obstacle course to obstacle course across their city during eco-friendly scavenger hunts that benefit local charities. Teams draft a road map to try to thwart the competition and be the first to complete the race, pausing at a series of checkpoints, where they must surmount such active roadblocks as slip 'n' slides, bike jousting, and reciting the Iliad in Pig Latin. The first team to conquer each challenge and cross the finish line is declared the victor, but all participants celebrate their efforts at a lively after-party stocked with snacks, beer, nonalcoholic drinks, and prizes.

Some people hire a personal trainer so they can receive individual attention, whereas others prefer group workouts because of the camaraderie they offer. At 501Fit, named the top gym in Minneapolis by Yelp and Men's Fitness, Phil Martens combines the best of both worlds with his G-Werx program. 501Fit additionally offers core-strengthening barre classes which combine ballet, pilates, and yoga, while emphasizing thigh, glut, and abdominal work. Members can also design their own workout with a large selection of cardio and strength-training equipment. Regardless of what workout option they choose, gym-goers will always be greeted with sparkling locker rooms, fresh towels, and picturesque views of the city's skyline.

For the theatrically inclined, Brave New Workshop offers engaging plays for your enjoyment in Minneapolis.
Feeling hungry? Sit down for a bite to eat at this club 's restaurant.
Enjoy the luxury of eating a delicious meal outside at Brave New Workshop.
Music lovers can enjoy live performances at Brave New Workshop as well.
Guests may have a hard time conversing, as the club is rather noisy.
You may be better off finding a table during the week, as weekends at the club tend to be packed.
Parking is plentiful, so guests can feel free to bring their vehicles.
Cyclists will also appreciate the plentiful space to lock up their bikes outside the club.
At Brave New Workshop, you can pay with Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express or any other major credit card.

Groupon Guide

In Saint Paul, activities change every season. The Twin Cities boast one of the most diverse climates of any American metropolitan area, ranging from a cold, flat 0 in winter months to monthly averages of 85 in the summer, making figuring out what to do in Minneapolis or St. Paul tough to suss out year-round. Here are few ideas on how to make the most of any minute’s weather.
SpringMarch is still mercilessly chilly, but April usually brings temperatures averaging in the 50s—just warm enough to shed the winter coats and start seeing the outside world.Blooming Paradise at Lebanon Hills Regional Park: At over 2,000 acres, this park encompasses more than few wildflower fields. Come springtime, they’re in full bloom, making for a stunning spot for a picnic. Just dress warmly.Babies at Minnesota Zoo: Fluffy chicks and baby bunnies have long symbolized the renewal of spring, but there are lots of animals being birthed in the early months of year. The Minnesota Zoo makes an event of it, putting together a April-only petting zoo of the fluffiest, friendliest baby animals around.Alfresco Dining on W.A. Frost’s Stunning Patio: W.A. Frost is of the most beloved restaurants in St. Paul in large part because of its stunningly landscaped patio. In the spring, potted annuals are just growing into their full seasonal color, livening up the already verdant foliage and classic cobblestone surroundings.
SummerAs the temperature increases, so do the number of open patios, rooftop decks, and second-story balconies. Everybody’s got their opinion on which one is best, so we’re going to recommend something (mostly) different.Sipping Suds at Summit Brewing: Summit Brewing offers free tours of its facilities for small groups of visitors, samples included. After a tour, guests can retire to the bluff-side patio for expansive views and additional beverages. Feel free to bring a third wheel—the patio is dog-friendly.Sunset Dinner Cruise from Padelford Riverboats: Every Friday night, a Padelford captain takes a old-fashioned paddleboat for a cruise down the Mississippi, romantic lighting courtesy of a setting sun. The cruise’s chef serves braised beef brisket, Port Royal chicken, sides, desserts, and coffee. It’s quite a comprehensive menu. There’s also a bar and, of course, the deck open to the twilight air.Cutting a Rug at the Ordway Summer Dance Series: Held in Rice Park on select evenings, this free event supplies the live music and elbow room, but attendees must bring the dance moves. There is some instruction at the event, with styles ranging from salsa and swing to classic ballroom. FallFall boasts a whole slew of outdoor activities all its own, mostly related to the harvest. From pumpkin patches to apple orchards, seasonal scares and treats abound.Apple-Cider Donuts at St. Paul Farmers' Market: One of the most delicious inventions to stem from the fall has to be the apple-cider donut. They’re sold by the half-dozen at the St. Paul Farmer’s Market, even into the colder months.Howling Pines Woods Walk at Trail of Terror: This attraction has no walls or tight corners but rather preys on the more primal fear of being trapped in a dark wood. The barely human creatures that haunt the trees soon lunge forth, spattered in gore, likely eliciting a scream from even the bravest trailblazer.WinterMost everyone can find a little romance in the shortened daylight of the holiday season, when candles, colorful lights, and the spirit of kindness reign. But what about in January and February, when the cold, gray winter persists? Here are a few recommendations on how to mine a bit of fun from these frigid months.Gliding Through the Wells Fargo WinterSkate: This free, artificially chilled skating rink stays open November through February, though it doesn’t end up needing its refrigeration abilities that often. The chilly open air keeps the ice nice and solid and goes well with views of a snow-covered downtown.Hot Chocolate from Mickey’s Dining Car: Featured in movies and even released as a collectible model train, Mickey’s Dining Car is a Twin Cities institution. It also happens to serve hot chocolate, which goes well with a stroll down the wintry streets and salted sidewalks.St. Paul Winter Carnival: This months-long festival features parades, 5Ks, and beer tastings, all centered around an epic legend of gods dueling for celebration in St. Paul. If it sounds a little larger than life, it is. Every annual festival involves people taking on the roles and costumes of deities and their appointees, and it culminates in the crowning of a new festival queen.

Elbows are flying, roller skates are slapping against the track, and the stadium crowd is erupting with cheers for their favorite players. If you’re looking for Minneapolis activities that skew toward the athletic and gritty, roller derby might the the answer. And luckily for locals, the North Star Roller Girls call Minneapolis their home base. Here’s what you need to know about the sport before you go see a game.How It StartedRoller derby’s popularity has really skyrocketed in the past decade or so, but its peculiar brand of carnage first wheeled its way onto the rink about 80 years ago. According to the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA)—roller derby’s largest governing body, of which the Roller Girls are members—the popularity of roller derby boomed in the 1940s when the sport rolled onto television screens, but then it waned in the 1960s. After several revival attempts, the sport has been experiencing a resurgence since the early 2000s; the North Star Roller Girls burst onto the scene and have been hosting Minneapolis events since 2006. And they have company—over in St. Paul, the Minnesota RollerGirls have been competing in roller-derby bouts since 2004.What It’s LikeIt shouldn’t come as a surprise that roller-derby leagues refer to their matches as bouts: the modern game is a fast-paced, full-contact sport that pits teams of five skaters against each other in a battle for speed and positioning. During competition, designated blockers congregate in a pack, where they push, shove, and bully each other in order to clear lanes for their team’s selected jammer. Jammers, in turn, attempt to maneuver through the pack as many times as possible, earning a point every time they lap a member of the opposition.The Local SceneThe North Star Roller Girls have two traveling teams of top-tier skaters who compete in national bouts. But during home matches at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, the league’s four teams—Delta Delta Di, The Kilmore Girls, Banger Sisters, and Violent Femmes—compete for bragging rights. And if you think the team names sound menacing, just wait till you see the names on the backs of the derby uniforms. A typical bout might see players like Kee Lime Die, Ally McSteel, and Jowanna Beat Down. Roller derby isn’t confined to any one demographic, but across the country, participation tends to be primarily female. Not so in Minneapolis, however, where the Roller Girls are joined by Minnesota Men’s Roller Derby and their all-star team, the Twin Cities Terrors.